Monday, February 6, 2023

The San Diego Zoo is also a Botanical Garden


I was away last week with my husband, daughter, and oldest granddaughter on a special early birthday celebration for our granddaughter who is turning ten years old this week. Five years ago we happened to celebrate her fifth birthday at Disney World in Florida and this time we went on a Disney Cruise Line trip from San Diego, California, to San Luis Los Cabos in Mexico.  We flew into San Diego a day early and that afternoon we visited the world-renowned San Diego Zoo!



The San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre wildlife park and home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals, representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and is located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park.  It was actually the second time I visited the zoo--I blogged about it in 2008--click here to read that post--but this was to be a first-time visit for our daughter and granddaughter. 




The Zoo is also an accredited botanical garden, caring for more than 700,000 individual plants, including a prominent curated assemblage of close to 13,000 specimens, representing 3,100 species.
On your visit to the zoo, you will see towering acacias, sturdy conifers, and stately palms to rare succulents, California natives, and an astonishing array of blossoms vying for the attention of pollinators.

Some of the flowers I saw at the zoo

San Diego’s mild climate makes it possible to grow many different types of plants than almost anywhere else in the United States. The Zoo and Safari Park also act as “rescue centers” for rare and endangered plants.



Information from the zoo website

"TheSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is saving and protecting wildlife—including plants—worldwide. As habitats have dwindled and disappeared around the globe, plants have their own place in the conservation spotlight. Without plants to provide oxygen, moisture, food, and shelter, ecosystems cannot survive, and neither can their inhabitants. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s plant conservation efforts are international in scope, working with partners to help save some of the most endangered plants, including coral trees, palms, cycads, and orchids that are nearly extinct in their native habitats. As part of these efforts, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance maintains the Native Plant Seed Bank, a collection of preserved seeds from plants all over the world, and partners with the Center for Plant Conservation, a consortium of botanical gardens that collaborate on plant conservation initiatives."



When we entered the zoo the first thing we did was take the Skyfari Aerial Tram to the far end of the zoo so we could walk downhill from the higher elevation at the rear of the zoo, and that was when I fell in love with all the magnificent trees and foliage we passed over. 




Perhaps because we left our home in a snowy and cold Colorado, seeing all these lush tropical trees filled me with awe and wonder!



I think I took more photos of the trees than of the animals.




We did see many of the animal exhibits and since we visited in the late afternoon many of the animals seemed to be getting a restful "after lunch" nap.





I was happy to see the new elephant 2.5-acre area that was being built on my last visit in 2008. There are many activities inside it for the elephants to enjoy.



The very best part of our visit to the zoo was seeing our granddaughter have a good time! 

We were all excited to know that the next day we would be beginning our Disney Cruise--more about that in my next post.



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33 comments:

diane b said...

What fun for all of you. It sounds like you will be in for more fun on the cruise. Your granddaughter is a lucky girl. Many of those plants grow here in the sub tropics. Actually, when we visited San Diego we felt it was a lot like Brisbane.

Little Wandering Wren said...

What a sweet way to enjoy your Grand daughters 10th Birthday celebrations. The zoo and Botanical Gardens look like a fabulous day out. Have fun on your Disney Cruise Pat!
Wren x

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
Wonderful photos of the San Diego Zoo and gardens. I was there back in the 1980's, I vaguely remember some of my visit. It is a fun place for you and your family to visit. Take care, have a happy week!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a fabulous celebration trip! I know you had fun and saw so many incredible things. WOW!

Tom said...

...I've heard about this zoo, it looks great.

Lydia C. Lee said...

How lovely - zoos are fascinating anyway, but seeing the joy as your grandchild experiences it is doubly so...#BlueMonday

Joanne said...

That sounds like a fun start to your trip! I love all these plant species you found; perhaps because everything here is so dead looking too.

William Kendall said...

Beautiful shots!

Veronica Lee said...

I enjoyed your fabulous photos of the zoo and gardens.

Happy Tuesday, Pat!

ellen b. said...

What a fun trip to take with your dear granddaughter. You got some great shots at the zoo. The San Diego Zoo is so huge!

Jeanie said...

What a fabulous visit -- that would be such fun. I've been there, once. Once isn't enough, and a day isn't enough, either! I don't think I knew they had botanical gardens. Spectacular. What fun you will be having! Safe travels!

Linda W. said...

I didn't realize the zoo had such diverse species of plants!

Sharon Wagner said...

Thanks for visiting my creative writing blog. Your comment was found and appreciated! It looks like a fun day at the zoo. I'll look forward to learning more about your Disney adventure. We are planning several zoo trips soon. Next stop Tucson and Sedona, AZ. :)

Sharon Wagner said...

Thank you for visiting my creative writing blog! What a fun zoo day. I'll look forward to your Disney posts. If this is a duplicate comment it is because I had trouble leaving it. We'll see if this one sticks. Happy trails! :)

stevebethere said...

What a nice place looks lovely and so interesting thanks for taking us with you :-)

Have a zootastic week 👍

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

San Diego Zoo is considered one of the best in the world. I've always wanted to see it. Thanks for taking me along on your visit!

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

What a lovely trip.
I love all the beautiful trees.
Thank you!

csuhpat1 said...

Very cool. Love it. Thanks for sharing this. Hopefully, I will get to see this in person at the end of March.

Michelle said...

I have always wanted to visit this zoo. It looks wonderful!

NCSue said...

Wow! What a wonderful place to visit!
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-few-images-from-chinese-lantern.html

EricaSta said...

You have a very pretty granddaughter! And it seems , itw as a wonderful day.

Thank you for sharing at
MosaicMonday

Hugs by Heidrun

Light and Voices said...

As a grandmother myself, I really enjoyed that smile on your granddaughter's face holding an ice cream cone in her hand besides. That picture tells it all. She had a wonderful time. One smile passed onto another and another and the world will be smiling too. I enjoyed the cyber tour of the San Diego Zoo. What a place! Your photographs are top notch.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

My last visit was a couple years ago. I think the grounds and plants are nearly as impressive as the animals. Thanks for sharing your visit with us!

Photo Cache said...

Thanks for the reminder of this wonderful spot. I have been there many years ago. Perhaps time for another visit.

Visiting from Skywatch Friday!

Worth a Thousand Words

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat,

Your trip sounds wonderful, I enjoyed the photos of both the gardens and the zoo animals. Cute photos of your granddaughter and all the zoo sculptures.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

Breathtaking said...

Hello :=)
Wonderful choice of venue to visit with your family It looks like the perfect place to celebrate a birthday. I enjoyed all your photos. :=)

Shiju Sugunan said...

Looks like a very enjoyable trip. What a way to celebrate a birthday!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

The San Diego Zoo is a complete experience as you show in your post. Plants, animals, everything.
It's been years since we have been, may be time to go again.

carol l mckenna said...

Not a fan of zoos ~ but botanical photos are lovely ~



Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days ~
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Lowcarb team member said...

What a fun time you all had.
Lovely photographs.
San Diego Zoo and gardens certainly looks a great place to visit.

All the best Jan

Rambling Woods said...

What a fun birthday that was Pat...I wanted to thank you for linking into Nature Notes. I have taken training for the new blog edititor so I am starting Nature Notes again and some memory post....I have heard that there is a huge seed saver somewhere that many nations contribute to but I didn't know this zoo had one....Michelle

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a great experience for all three generations! Perfect place for any and all ages -- everybody loves the San Diego Zoo. We visited there twice both years ago now though -- and I'm sure it has continued to improve and add. Lovely tropical break for you too (the plants look like home here in Florida).

Rambling Woods said...

Hi Pat. The deer rehabber had concerns because of the injury on his side. He had been eating seed which isn’t that great for him so we got appropriate food. He had another injury from a wire fence and we supported him through that. Many deer die of starvation. I did what she suggested we do.